Meeting and Event Highlights for the Week of November 11, 2024

In the D19

• Final Guaranteed Yard Waste Collection Round Begins Next Week: For some neighborhoods of Madison, the final guaranteed leaf collection of the fall begins next week. These neighborhoods have a set out day for leaves and yard waste of Sunday, November 10, 2024. Other neighborhoods, including some in District 19, have later final guaranteed set out days [posted November 8, 2024]
• Lake Mendota Drive Project Completion: Madison's Traffic Engineering Department advises that the project to reconstruct Lake Mendota Drive and add sidewalks is essentially complete. Remaining work consists of removal of several private utility poles in the public right-of-way and resulting sidewalk repair.
• Speeding Concerns: I've been receiving an increasing number of emails expressing concern about speeding vehicles and the resulting danger to pedestrians, bikers, and other drivers. Other alders have as well. Note below under "Events" that Madison is anchoring its "Vision Zero" renewed push for reducing traffic violence by recognizing the World Day of Remembrance (for victims of traffic violence) on November 17.
• Soutwest Area Plan Kick-off Reminder: The first public input round for the Southwest Area Plan begins November 19. The Soutwest Area includes that part of District 19 bounded by the Beltline on the north, Schoeder Road on the South, Gammon Road on the West, and Whitney Way on the East.
  • First is an in-person open house on Tuesday, November 19, from 6:30 to 8:00 pm at Toki Middle School, 5606 Russet Road, Madison. Just come.
  • The virtual sessions are noon to 1 pm and 6 to 7 pm on December 3. Use this Planning Division webpage link to register for either of the virtual sessions. That page also contains links to background information

Boards, Commissions, and Committee Meetings

Note: This is not a complete list of meetings for this upcoming week. All meetings and their details can be found at the Meeting Schedule page.

• Common Council: The Common Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, November 12, at 5:30 p.m. in hybrid format. Agenda items include adopting the additional property tax levy, as well as budget deliberations.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online
• Common Council: The Common Council meeting will take place on Wednesday, November 13, at 5:30 p.m. in hybrid format, if needed. This meeting, if needed, would be used for budget deliberations.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online
• Common Council: The Common Council meeting will take place on Thursday, November 14, at 5:30 p.m. in hybrid format, if needed. This meeting, if needed, would be used for budget deliberations.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online

If you would like more information about becoming a member of a City board, commission, or committee, please visit the page linked here.

Save the Date! Upcoming Alder Events

• Empowering Small Businesses: District 7 Lunch and Learn featuring the Office of Business Resources, Thursday, November 21: Join Alder Nasra Wehelie as she hosts staff from the Office of Business Resources! Learn more about small business opportunities, how to apply for city programs, TIF, TBE certification, and more! This virtual event is free and open to all Madison residents.
• District 11 Book Club with Stu Levitan, Wednesday, December 11: For our next District 11 Book Club on December 11th, Stu Levitan will give an illustrated talk on Madison in the 1970s, adapted from his forthcoming book, Madison: The Illustrated Sesquicentennial History, Volume 2, 1932 to 1979.

Announcements and News Releases

• Nomination Deadline Extended for Jeffrey Clay Erlanger Civility in Public Discourse Award: The deadline to submit nominations for the Jeffrey Clay Erlanger Civility in Public Discourse Award has been extended until Friday, November 15… [posted November 8, 2024]
• Statement from Mayor Rhodes-Conway on the City’s Referendum : “Madison residents deeply value the services their city government provides and that's reflected by the outcome of the referendum." [posted November 8, 2024]
• City of Madison Honors those Lives Lost due to Traffic Violence during Week prior to the World Day of Remembrance: In recognition of World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims on Sunday, November 17th, the City of Madison will install a memorial display and host a press conference to remember the lives lost due to traffic violence on City of Madison… [posted November 8, 2024]
• Housing Strategy Committee outlines recommendations to increase affordability and supply: As the City works to support more housing opportunities of all types, there is more work to be done. That is why the Housing Strategy Committee reviewed the City’s 2021 Housing Forward Initiative and is building on it by making new recommendations. [posted November 7, 2024]
• Southbound Lane Closures on S Park Street – November 9 and 10: Starting at 4:00am Saturday, November 9 until approximately 7:00pm on Sunday, November 10, C.D. Smith will close the southbound travel lanes on S Park Street, between University Avenue and W Dayton Street for crane setup and girder installation for… [posted November 6, 2024]
• Street Closures - Madison Marathon: The Madison Marathon races will take place Sunday, November 10, starting at 7:00am at the Capitol. Runners will move through the UW Arboretum, Vilas Park, around Lake Monona, and back to the Capitol, with the last runners finishing around 1:… [posted November 5, 2024]

Events

• OIM Opening Investigative Process, Monday, November 11: The Office of the Independent Monitor will be providing details on the opening of its investigative process. The Office is also announcing the start of a data project in collaboration with UCLA. After remarks, Independent Monitor Robin Copley and Data Analyst Greg Gelembiuk will be taking questions from the media.
• Parks Alive Fall | Allied Park, Monday, November 11: Parks Alive builds stronger neighborhoods and connects neighbors to their parks through fun, family-friendly activities, music and free food. Events are held in parks across the city and throughout the summer. Connect with your neighbors and engage with your community at a Parks Alive event near you!
• Parks Alive Fall | Warner Park, Wednesday, November 13: Parks Alive builds stronger neighborhoods and connects neighbors to their parks through fun, family-friendly activities, music and free food. Events are held in parks across the city and throughout the fall. Connect with your neighbors and engage with your community at a Parks Alive event near you!
• LGBTQ 50+ Intergenerational Autumn Dinner, Thursday, November 14: A fun fall gathering of like-minded adults to mingle, enjoy a meal, listen to music, and maybe even do some dancing. Blush is a local all-girl band out of Madison. Their music is grungy alternative-rock, and they will play some originals and some covers everyone is sure to know.  A $20 donation for the meal is appreciated but not required. Registration required, call 608-255-8582. Open to all ages of queer folks and their allies.
• World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, Friday, November 15: The City of Madison Vision Zero team will be hosting their 3rd installation display to honor those lost from traffic violence beginning on Monday, November 11. 
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Starkweather Creek Area, Saturday, November 16: Fall Tree Walk ~ Join Naturalist Tree Expert Sean Gere for a fun and informal free family friendly guided walk or take a healthy nature hike on your own any day in Necember on easy walk and bike paths along Starkweather Creek. Enjoy the outdoors and learn about trees when leaves have fallen and you can see the branching structures and bark more easily.   
• Hayride Through Holiday Fantasy in Lights, Saturday, November 16 & Sunday, November 17: See the Holiday Fantasy in Lights at Olin Park aboard a haywagon! No reservation is needed.
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Warner Park, Sunday, November 17: Walks at Warner Park held on the 3rd Sunday of every month are co-sponsored by Madison Bird City FUN partners Wild Warner  and Madison Audubon . Meet at the colorful Warner Park shelter by the lagoon. Parking is available nearby. No registration is required. No pets are allowed.
• Holiday Fantasy in Lights at Olin Park, November 9th through December 31, 2024: Lighted holiday themed displays set in beautiful Olin Park. Drive through anytime Dusk until Dawn to enjoy this magical light show for free, brought to you by The Electric Group.

For the full list of upcoming events, please visit the City events calendar.